World News

MAKASSAR, Indonesia (The Jakarta Post/ANN) - While the government has prioritised the development of adequate water and sanitation infrastructure in its policy agenda, budgetary allocations especially at the regency and municipality level for the sector remain below the desired levels.

BEIJING (China Daily/ANN) - Some of the families of passengers who went missing on Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 — the jetliner that disappeared on its way to Beijing in 2014 — will go to the United States next week to file a lawsuit against aircraft maker Boeing, a lawyer involved in the case said.

Republic of Korea President Moon Jae-in's four-day state visit to China that begins on Wednesday is certainly another sign that there has been a thaw in the recently chilly China-ROK relationship.

But pleasant as it will no doubt be to the ears of his hosts, his promise not to use the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense anti-missile system for purposes other than preventing nuclear/missile threats from Pyongyang, will be difficult to verify in practice.

Danfoss, a player in energy efficiency, on Wednesday continued its “Danfoss Drives Southeast Asia Energy Efficiency Tour”, arriving in Bangkok to raise awareness on the importance of energy efficiency.

The tour covers 6,000 kilometres to more than 20 cities across Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.

SEOUL (REUTERS) - North Korea on Thursday (Dec 14) warned it would take "merciless self-defensive" measures should the United States enforce a naval blockade, which Pyongyang sees as "an act of war", the isolated nation's state media said.

Citing a foreign ministry spokesman, the North's KCNA news agency said a naval blockade would be a "wanton violation" of the country's sovereignty and dignity.

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Borneo Bulletin/ANN) - The Asean-Japan Centre (AJC) organised a seminar on promoting trade in tourism services in Asean at Novotel Hua Hin Cha Am Beach Resort and Spa, Thailand from November 30 to December 2. This is the fourth seminar of a series of seminars on promoting services trade.

JAKARTA/KUALA LUMPUR (The Straits Times/ANN) - Rallies were held to condemn Trump's move to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Protesters rallied in Muslim-majority Asian cities yesterday (Dec 8) to voice their anger over a controversial decision by United States President Donald Trump to reverse a longstanding policy and recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.